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After another June series it is no doubt time to reflect on what has transpired and just what it all means for our beloved Wallabies moving forward.
On face value beating a rugby super power should evoke a great deal of elation. I fear the Wallabies dismantling of an extremely strong French squad of players is going far too unheralded.
On paper the French side should’ve provided a much closer contest. So was it a case of them being poor or was it a case of the Wallabies reaching a new level?
Regardless of what you think, we beat them 3-0 and so there are plenty of positives to take from that.
Here are my top five positives to take from the series.
1. We scored 12 tries
No matter how you look at it scoring 12 tries against any top tier side in three matches is remarkable. All the more remarkable when considered one of those games resulted in no tries at all. We scored more tries against France than they conceded in the entire Six Nations.
2. We conceded only three tries
All of them were conceded when the game was already won. That’s a healthy result. France scored nine tries recently in the Six Nations from five games. They are used to scoring about two tries a game, so we’ve done well to restrict them. More importantly we simply outclassed their attack with stunting defence.
3. Our depth
It was tested with injury and selection, yet for the first time in a long time we’ve shown we actually have some depth. I put it down to the five Super Rugby teams we’ve been allowed which is exposing more players to top class rugby. This is important come Rugby World Cup time when the depth of the squad can be the most important aspect of a winning campaign.
4. Our scrum
It looked competent and at times dominant. Sekope Kepu’s performance in particular was most pleasing at scrum time. James Slipper was less impressive, but he too has improved and had good moments, particularly in Game 1. With Scott Sio waiting in the wings things are looking healthy at loose head at least. We still need a genuine Test-class backup to Kepu though.
5. Israel Folau
Class. For mine the most valuable player the Wallabies have had since… well, maybe ever. He statistically and realistically impresses every time he plays. It’s come to the point where his superhuman deeds are becoming so common place that fans and journalists are becoming a little complacent when reflecting on his performance.
How he didn’t get man of the match in the first game is a crime. He probably should’ve got man of the match in the other two as well.
But it is not all sunbeams and flowers. There were some negatives to come out of this series win, in the form of the top five things we need to come to terms with.
1. Wrong tactics
In Australia you can’t afford to play the tactics we did in Game 2. The backlash was something uniquely Australian. The tactics worked and we won but unlike every other rugby nation, bar New Zealand, that is not enough. We have to win pretty on our home soil or at least attempt to do so.
After all, there is a desire from journalists and fans to jump on anything negative to do with rugby union. It was interesting that the State of Origin played a few days later, resulted in just of try but gained no such disdain and mockery.
2. The Nic White dilemma
White is not the man to take the Wallabies to glory. He simply lacks the cutting edge of Will Genia and Nick Phipps. Although I respect his strengths, a long kicking game and a decent pass, I implore Ewen McKenzie to reconsider him as the Wallabies’ number nine.
3. Our centre pairing is an odd choice
Matt Toomua is far too conservative a choice for number 12. If we want a second receiver at number 12 then we must go with Kurtley Beale. If Toomua is the best number 10 than pick him there. But he is not cutting edge enough to play the role we need, if we indeed choose to have a ball-playing 12.
As for Tevita Kuridrani, he is the second best number 13 in the country. That is a fact and so let’s just have Adam Ashley-Cooper play where he plays his best rugby.
4. Some players’ Test careers should end
James Horwill is not the player he once was. There are plenty of better locks in the country and I can not see why he is still in the mix. I doubt we’ll see him in a Test again.
Scott Fardy has had a very good Super Rugby season but I found his Test performances last year overrated. He was also very disappointing this June. We should consider Luke Jones or Dave Dennis as an alternative at number six. Benn Robinson may have had his day at Test level also.
5. The All Blacks are still better than us
But that’s okay. Why we can’t come to terms with this in the same way the Kiwis accept they’ll never really usurp the Kangaroos, apart from the odd match, is beyond me. I came to terms with this years ago and I urge the rest of us to do so.
Then we can live in the present and stop looking over our shoulder craving the approval of our cross-Tasman rivals. When we play France we should concern ourselves with how we are doing against them.
Forget the Bledisloe until it is time for the Bledisloe. When it comes around, consider we probably won’t win. We can only hope we get lucky on the day and play well enough to beat a superior squad of players.
All in all we should be proud of the boys that got the series win and look to the future with promise.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.